This science of Haṭha Yoga, like a house, protects the practitioner from the heat of the three afflictions. It is the refuge of all yogīs dedicated to practice.

The three afflictions (tāpa-traya) in Indian philosophy are:

1. Ādhyātmika — Sufferings originating in oneself (physical and mental illnesses)
2. Ādhibhautika — Sufferings caused by other beings (people, animals, insects)
3. Ādhidaivika — Sufferings caused by natural or divine forces (weather, disasters, fate)

The metaphor of the house (maṭha) is eloquent: just as a house protects from the scorching sun, Haṭha Yoga offers refuge from the afflictions of existence.

For the modern practitioner: Haṭha Yoga does not promise to eliminate external problems, but it does offer tools to develop resilience and equanimity in facing them.